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May 12, 2014

Solar Electric Propulsion Aids Cost-Effective Space Exploration

NASA’s Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) project, managed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is developing large solar arrays and high-powered electric thrusters that could enable cost-effective trips to Mars, asteroids and other destinations in our solar system. SEP will use an electrically propelled system energized by electric power from the on-board solar arrays that will use 10 times less propellant than a comparable, conventional chemical propulsion system. This will allow for reduced fuel mass that still has the capability to propel spacecraft for potential science missions, human exploration missions, or satellite servicing.